The Legal 500

Allen & Gledhill LLP’s ‘helpful, professional’ team, led by Vivian Ang and Gina Lee Wan, acted for Nordea Bank on cross-border issues concerning Korea Lines Corporation. Clients appreciate Yap Yin Soon’s ‘hands-on’ approach, and recommend litigator Corina Song.

Rajah & Tann LLP’s 27-lawyer team, led by Toh Kian Sing SC, was strengthened by the launch of the firm’s Vietnam office and the hire of two Malaysian-qualified lawyers. The firm advises on all areas of shipping and ship finance. Highlights included acting as external counsel on shipping issues when BHP Billiton declared force majeure at Haypoint Terminal, Queensland in December 2010. Winston Kwek and Leong Kah Wah are leading names. Clients value Ian Teo’s ‘timely, practical advice’.

Drew & Napier LLC handles dry and wet work for an international client base. Director Werner Tsu, commended for his ‘remarkable expertise’, is representing a Norwegian company seeking S$20m indemnity from a Chinese enterprise following a tug and tow accident.

Joseph Tan Jude Benny’s name partner Jude P Benny advises P&I clubs, shipowners, shipyards, insurers and cargo interests on collision and salvage claims.

Oon & Bazul LLP specialises in marine insurance, particularly involving Malaysian ships and cargo. Former seafaring officer Goush Marikan is ‘exceptionally good in wet work’, while Bazul Ashaab ‘combines legal knowledge with commercial acumen’. Litigator Nicholas Lum joined from Clyde & Co in Shanghai. Oon Thian Seng is recommended.

Rodyk & Davidson LLP’s practice, co-headed by ‘highly qualified and responsive’ SIAC arbitrator Lawrence Teh and Janice Ngeow, handles ship finance work, cross-border corporate transactions and maritime disputes. Teh is advising Asiatic Shipping in a breach of charterparty claim against IRISL (Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

Collin Seah and Ian Lim at TSMP Law Corporation handled charterparty claims including recovery of $90m in unpaid charter hire and damages, advising creditors of Korea Line Corporation and recovery of demurrage for PetroChina.

Maritime law is a mainstay for Ang & Partners, which handles dry, wet and transactional work. Loo Dip Seng focuses on admiralty litigation. Chan Leng Sun SC was appointed senior counsel.

Four-partner practice AsiaLegal LLC specialises in marine collision and casualty claims, charterparty disputes and other marine insurance matters. Timothy Tan and P Jeya Putra are leading names.

Colin Ng & Partners LLP advised Catalist listed Equation Corp on the $3m acquisition of three vessels. Clients recommend the ‘solid, meticulous’ Bill Jamieson

Gurbani & Co’s name partner Prem Gurbani handles wet and dry matters advising shipowners, operators and charterers, marine insurers, freight forwarders and financial institutions. Litigators S Mohan and Richard Kuek are recommended.

Haridass Ho & Partners’ Ajaib Haridass and his team handle wet and dry work, representing shipowners, shipyards and P&I Clubs.

Deborah Barker and K Anparasan lead KhattarWong’s shipping practice, advising on contentious and non-contentious shipping and admiralty matters, ship financing and compliance with the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore’s requirements.

Joseph Tan at Legal Solutions LLC handles shipping and cargo related disputes and international arbitrations and advises Amarante Shipping on all shipping-related matters.

Loo & Partners LLP provides ‘excellent, quality advice’ on ship financing, notably representing Mega International Commercial Bank in its $134m vessels acquisition financing to Taiwanese shipping conglomerate U-Ming Group. Nordea Bank is a key client.

Litigator Wendy Tan at Stamford Law Corporation represented QBE Insurance Malaysia Berhad in a case involving the loss of a barge in a typhoon. Ship finance specialist Susan Kong advised Rickmers Maritime on debt restructuring matters.